Fluid-pressure regulator



(No Model.)

G. G. CLARK.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 595,147 Patented Dec. 7,1897.

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GEORGE GREENLEAF CLARK, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HIL- LIARY ELDRIDGE, SYLVAIN BLUM, AND DANIEL J. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE, AND SAM LAZARUS, OF SHERMAN, TEXAS.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

S?ECIFIC ATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 595,147, dated. December '7, 1897. Application filed February 3,1897. Serial No. 621,879. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE GREENLEAF CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Gas-Pressure Regulator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas-pressu re regulators especially adapted for use with gas stored under high pressure in a cylinder or similar portable storage vessel. The regulator is interposed between and connected to the storage vessel and the distributing-pipes and automatically regulates the pressure of the gas in its passage from the former to the latter.

The object of the invention is to produce a device of this character simple in construction, efficient in operation, and which may be manufactured at a low cost and thereafter be easily kept in repair.

lVith these objects in View the invention consists of the several details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter f ully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawing represents a longitudinal section of the gas-regulator.

1 represents a piston-cylinder having at its upper end an annular flange 2, on which is seated a cap-plate 3 to close the upper end of the cylinder, the cap-plate being secured to the flange 2 by bolts at or other suitable fastenin g devices. The cap-plate 3 is provided with a hub or collar 5, which forms a guide for the rod 6 of the piston 7, the latter being adapted to worl: as-tight within the cylinder 1.

8 represents a spiral spring surrounding the piston-rod 6 and interposed between the upper face of the piston 7 and the cap-plate 3, its normal tendency being to force the piston downwardly. The tension of the spring 8 will be adjusted to maintain its normal position against pressure on the piston as long as the said pressure does not exceed the pre determined pressure of the gas in the servicepipes; but if this pressure is exceeded in the cylinder the spring will be compressed.

The casting of which the cylinder 1 forms a portion extends downwardly beyond the cylinder proper and is provided with a vertical opening 9 of much less diameter than the cylinder, leading from its lower end to the cylinder to form a passage for the gas from the storage Vessel (not shown) to the cylinder. Immediately below the cylinder the casting is provided with a transverse tapering recess 10, which forms a seat for the tapered plug-valve 11, which valve is provided with an opening 12, adapted to register with the opening 9. The small end of the valve 11 is provided with a threaded extension 13, which projects outwardly beyond the casting, and the valve is held in its seat by means of the nuts 14, a spring 15, and a washer 16, the washer and the spring being interposed between the casting and the nuts 14:. The threaded extension 13 is reduced at its outer end, as indicated at 16, and on this reduced portion a crank 17 is secured by means of a set-screw 18. The opposite end of the plug is also provided with an extension 19, which is reduced at its outer end to receive a crank, also indicated by 17, and which is secured in position in a manner similar to that in which the crank is secured at the opposite end of the pl ug-valve.

20 represents rods provided at their opposite ends with integral horizontal sleeves 2 The sleeves at the lower ends of these rods fit over the horizontal arms of the cranks 17 and are secured in position by means of the collars 22 and set-screws The sleeves 21 at the upper ends of the rods 20 fit over the reduced ends 24 of the cross-bar 25 and are secured in position thereon by collars 26 and set-screws 27. The upper end of the pistonrod 6 is reduced, as indicated at 28, and the reduced portion is screw-threaded and passes through the crossbar 25, about midway of its length, and the piston-rod and the cross-bar are securely locked together by a nut 29 on the threaded end 28 of the piston-rod. The lower end of the casing is screw-threaded, as indicated at 30, for the purpose of connecting the regulator to the storage vessel.

The regulator may be connected directly to the storage vessel, or the connection may be made through the medium of a pipe, as will be most-convenient under the circumstances. The casting is also provided withan annular flange 31 immediately above the threaded lower end 30, and to this flange 31 is secured a casing 32, which entirely incloses the working parts of the regulator.' The casing is closed at its upper end and provided with a horizontal flange 33, which is perforated, as indicated at 34, for the reception of bolts, by means of which the regulator may be secured to the bottom of a car, an engine-tender, or to any other suitable support. The lower end of the casing is also provided with a horizontal flange 35, which is also perforated for the reception of bolts 36, by means of which the casing is firmly secured to the flange 31 of the casting.

' 37 represents a pipe leading from the lower endof the cylinder 1 out through'the casing 32, which latter is provided with asuitable opening for its passage. The outer end of this pipe is threaded, as indicated by 38, by

- means of which connection may be made between it and the distributing-pipes. The interior diameter-of the pipe 37is-substantial1y equal to that of the inlet-passage 9.

The operation of the device is as follows: Theregulator-havingbeenproperlyconnected to the storage vessel and the distributingpipes, gas is admitted from the storage Vessel through the passage 9 into the cylinder 1, and'the pressure of the gaswill be the same in the cylinder as itis in the storage-reser: voir. When this pressure is in excess of what is required in the distributing-pipes,

the piston will be'moved upward against the force of the spring 8, and this upward movement will carry the rods 20 upwardly and turn the valve 11 in its seat throughthemedium of the cranks 17 to close the passage 9 and stop the flow ofgas to the cylinder. As

the spring 8 will be of such tension as to permit the piston to move upwardly onlywhen the pressure in the cylinder exceeds the predetermined pressure of the gas in the servicepipes, it isobvious that as the gas is consumed at the burners connected with the servicepipes the pressure in the cylinder will be reduced, and the spring 8 will then forcethe cylinder downwardly, and this movement will result in opening the plug-valve 10 and again permit the gas to flow from the storage vessel into the cylinder.

As the interior diameter of the cylinder is much greater than'that of either the inlet or outlet openings, it is obvious that the excessive pressure in the cylinder will act upon the piston before it will be perceptible to any extent in the service pipes, and immediately the piston is moved the pressure will be relieved. It is also obvious that as the piston is directly in line with the incoming gas it must be at once subjected to any excess of pressure before such pressure can extend to the servicepipes.

It willthus be seen'that the regulator a11- tomatically controls the pressure of the gas in the service-pipes, that its construction is simple, and that it may be easily taken apart for the purpose of repair or the renewal of any of its parts.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details'of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination with a cylinder adapted to be connected to the source of gas-supply to receive gas therefrom, and a controlling-valve in the conduit between the cylinder and the source of supply, of a spring-actuated piston working in the cylinder directly in line with the flow of gas from the source of supply to the cylinder, connections between the piston and the valve to transmit movement from the former to the latter, and a service-pipe of'less interior diameter than the cylinder leading laterally from the receiving end of the cylinder, substantiallyas described.

2. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination with a cylinder adapted to be connected to the source of supply to form a straight continuation of the supply-conduit,

and a turning-plug valve in the conduit between the cylinder and source of supply, of a spring-actuated piston working in the cylinder, a-service-pipe of less interior diameter than the cylinder lead-ing laterally from the receivingend of the cylinder, a crank on each end of the turning-plug, a crossbar on the piston-rod, and rods connecting the cranks with the respective ends of the cross-bar, whereby the movement of the piston turns the valve in its seat, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-pressure regulator, a casting having a cylinder at its upper end, a threaded lower end for connection to the source of gassupply, and an annular flange between the threaded end and the lower end of the cylinder and provided with a gas-conduit leading from the cylinder out through its threaded end, and a turning-plug valve insaid conduit below the cylinder, combined with a springactuated'piston in the cylinder, connections between the piston and the valve, a casing detachably connected to the flange on the casting and inclosing the working parts of the device, and a service-pipe of less diameter than the cylinder leading from the cylin- -der out through the casing,'substantial1y as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE GREENLEAF CLARK.

Witnesses:

B. I. WILLGOXON, M. GRUMLEAD. 

